Safe and Healthy Friendships You may know many classmates and peers, but only a few may be your good friends. Your relationships with friends and peers can affect your health and well-being.

Lesson Objectives In this lesson, you’ll learn to: Evaluate the positive and negative effects of peer relationships and friends on physical and emotional health. Evaluate the dynamics of social groups. Demonstrate strategies for communicating needs, wants, and emotions. Develop management strategies to improve or maintain your health and that of peers.

Types of Peer Relationships Situations That Benefit Your Social Health As you get older, the dynamics of your social groups change. This can benefit your social health by giving you opportunities to meet people of all ages, races, religions, and backgrounds. Interacting with diverse peers can enrich your life and contribute to personal growth.

Types of Peer Relationships Friendships A healthy friendship is based on: Caring. Respect. Trust. Consideration. Healthy friendships can give you a sense of belonging and help you define and reinforce your values.

Types of Peer Relationships Benefits of Platonic Friendships Platonic friendships can: Help you understand and become comfortable with individuals of the opposite gender. Be a valuable source of advice concerning dating issues. Help you realize that all people, regardless of gender, have similar feelings, needs, and concerns.

Types of Peer Relationships Casual Friendships A casual friendship is a relationship between peers who share something in common. Casual friends are people with whom you share some interests but are not necessarily people with whom you form deep emotional bonds.

Types of Peer Relationships Close Friendships Close friends have strong emotional ties and feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, experiences, and feelings. They trust and support each other, acting with kindness, courtesy, and loyalty. When problems arise in the relationship, close friends will try to work them out together.

Types of Peer Relationships Common Attributes of True Friendships Similar values, interests, beliefs, and attitudes on basic issues Open and honest communication Sharing of joys, disappointments, dreams, and concerns Mutual respect, caring, and support Concern about each other’s safety and well-being

Types of Peer Relationships Cliques Clique members may: Share the same attitudes. Wear similar clothing. Meet regularly in an area identified as their “turf.” Engage in other behaviors that identify them as a clique.

Types of Peer Relationships Influences of Cliques on Peers Cliques can have both positive and negative influences on peers. Being part of a clique may provide members with a sense of belonging. A clique is a negative influence if members are discouraged from thinking for themselves or acting as individuals.

Types of Peer Relationships Prejudices and Stereotypes Prejudice is making assumptions or judgments about an individual without really knowing him or her. The beliefs and actions that members of a clique use to exclude others are prejudicial and based on stereotypes.

Forming Healthy Friendships Choosing Friends Often, friends encourage each other to make healthy, responsible decisions. Friends can also serve as mutual protective factors. Some friends, however, may try to influence you to participate in risky activities or behaviors. If a friendship isn’t contributing to your life in a positive way, it’s time to reevaluate that relationship.

Forming Healthy Friendships Building and Strengthening Friendships Positive friendships are built on common values and interests. Having common values means friends won’t pressure each other to engage in unhealthy risk behaviors. Having common interests gives friends something to talk about and do together.

Forming Healthy Friendships Ways to Strengthen a Healthy Friendship Be loyal. Friends don’t purposely do anything to hurt each other, and they always speak respectfully of each other. Encourage each other. Friends acknowledge each other’s accomplishments and help each other through difficult times. Respect each other. Common courtesy helps keep friendships strong. Avoid taking friends for granted.

Q. ____ are people of similar age who share similar interests. Quick Review Choose the appropriate option. Q. ____ are people of similar age who share similar interests. Stereotypes Peers Siblings Cliques

A. Peers are people of similar age who share similar interests. Quick Review - Answer A. Peers are people of similar age who share similar interests. Click Next to attempt another question.

Q. Define friendship. Identify four character traits on which Quick Review Provide a short answer to the question given below. Q. Define friendship. Identify four character traits on which friendships are based. Click Next to view the answer.

A. A friendship is a significant relationship between two people. Quick Review - Answer A. A friendship is a significant relationship between two people. Healthy friendships are based the following: Caring Respect Trust Consideration Click Next to attempt another question.

Q. List two ways to strengthen a friendship. Quick Review Provide a short answer to the question given below. Q. List two ways to strengthen a friendship. Click Next to view the answer.

A. Some ways of strengthening a friendship: Quick Review - Answer A. Some ways of strengthening a friendship: Be loyal. Encourage each other. Respect each other. Click Next to attempt another question.

Quick Review Compare and evaluate. Evaluate the dynamics of social groups consisting of casual friends, close friends, and platonic friends. What qualities do these groups share? How do they differ?

Quick Review - Answer A. Correct! Peers are people of similar age who share similar interests. Click Next to attempt another question.

Quick Review - Answer You have answered the question incorrectly. Go back to try again, or click Next to view the correct answer.

Types of Peer Relationships Situations That Benefit Your Social Health As you get older, the dynamics of your social groups change. This can benefit your social health by giving you opportunities to meet people of all ages, races, religions, and backgrounds. Interacting with diverse peers can enrich your life and contribute to personal growth. Peers are people of similar age who share similar interests.

Types of Peer Relationships Friendships A healthy friendship is based on: A friendship is a significant relationship between two people. Caring. Respect. Trust. Consideration. Healthy friendships can give you a sense of belonging and help you define and reinforce your values.

Types of Peer Relationships Benefits of Platonic Friendships Platonic friendships can: A platonic friendship is a friendship with a member of the opposite gender in which there is affection but the two people are not considered a couple. Help you understand and become comfortable with individuals of the opposite gender. Be a valuable source of advice concerning dating issues. Help you realize that all people, regardless of gender, have similar feelings, needs, and concerns.

Types of Peer Relationships Cliques Clique members may: A clique is a small circle of friends, usually with similar backgrounds or tastes, who exclude people viewed as outsiders. Share the same attitudes. Wear similar clothing. Meet regularly in an area identified as their “turf.” Engage in other behaviors that identify them as a clique.

Types of Peer Relationships Prejudices and Stereotypes Prejudice is making assumptions or judgments about an individual without really knowing him or her. The beliefs and actions that members of a clique use to exclude others are prejudicial and based on stereotypes. A stereotype is an exaggerated and oversimplified belief about an entire group of people, such as an ethnic or religious group or a gender.